The eagerly-anticipated financial report on the 2002-2003 Junkanoo parades “is ready,” and will be, “perhaps presented” to Parliamentarians on Wednesday, March 19.
Leader of government business in the House of Assembly, Vincent Peet, made the announcement around 6:55 p.m. Wednesday before suspending the evening session of the House.
“I know that members opposite want to know what is happening to the Junkanoo report, and I just want to advise members that the report is ready and it will be available and perhaps presented at the next sitting, but not today,” he said.
Prime Minister Perry Christie last week told Parliamentarians that the report would be available on Monday.
Mr Christie produced a letter from the Deloitte & Touch� accounting firm, contracted to prepare the report, to the effect that they were finalizing their investigations and would submit their findings to the Ministry of Finance on Monday March 10.
He said that the accounting firm met the deadline,
but “obviously,” the report is for Parliament, but it must first be reviewed by the Cabinet.
Advising that Cabinet had first sight of the document on Tuesday, Prime Minister Christie, said that he was “amazed” to see an editorial in The Nassau Guardian proclaiming, “Mr. Christie, you are late.”
Commentators on matters of national importance should try to understand government procedures, Mr Christie chided. He said, “It was not for Christie to report on Monday. It was for Deloitte and Touch�. It was for Christie, as leader of the government, to ensure and assure that this report would come to Parliament at the earliest opportunity.”
Debate on the Bill (presently before the House) for an Act to provide for the Regulation and Management of Day Care Centers and Pre-schools was of more importance to the social development of the country, Mr Christie said.
“That was the decision of the government. And so I would simply wish to assure members and the people of the country, that at the first available opportunity on this agenda, the report, accompanied by a communication from the Minister responsible and the relevant documents associated with the report and all explanations with the report will be made,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition in the House of Assembly, Alvin Smith, asked the Prime Minister whether there would be an opportunity for House members to debate the report, and also whether it would include a covering letter from Deloitte & Touch�.
Mr Christie responded that he was told that members of the Senate were awaiting what was “purported” to be a management letter from Deloitte & Touch�. He said that he was aware that the report was being widely anticipated, but he could not preempt the required procedures.
“Insofar as the accounting firm is concerned,” he said, “I am led to believe that they are giving a complete report, inclusive of an explanation letter, as the member (Alvin Smith) might describe as a management letter. With respect to this, you are free, Mr. Leader of the Opposition to invite us to debate any matter. It’s just a question of the agenda.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Youth Sports and Culture, Neville Wisdom, was tight-lipped on whether the report was handed over to the government on Monday as announced by Prime Minister Perry Christie.
Queried as to the exact whereabouts of the report, Mr Wisdom said, “I can’t answer that right now, only because we sort of have it and we sort of don’t. Some time this evening I think we may have it, but I don’t want to say this officially. I am on my way now to Deloitte & Touch� and that is all I can say.”
Asked whether he thought the account would reflect a profit or loss, he responded: “What price do you put on culture?”
Mr. Wisdom said the gain is the positive development of Junkanoo and that there was nothing “untoward” in the Government’s involvement in Junkanoo. “All we tried to do is do the right thing and move things forward,” he stated.
This is the first time government is willing to be “accountable” by producing a report for the public, Mr Wisdom said.
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
